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Quaver vs Waver - What's the difference?

quaver | waver | Synonyms |

In intransitive terms the difference between quaver and waver

is that quaver is to use the voice in a trembling manner, as in speaking or singing while waver is to be indecisive between choices; to feel or show doubt or indecision; to vacillate.

As nouns the difference between quaver and waver

is that quaver is a trembling shake while waver is an act of wavering, vacillating, etc.

As verbs the difference between quaver and waver

is that quaver is to shake in a trembling manner while waver is to sway back and forth; to totter or reel.

quaver

English

(wikipedia quaver)

Noun

(en noun)
  • a trembling shake.
  • a trembling of the voice, as in speaking or singing.
  • (music) an eighth note, drawn as a crotchet (quarter note) with a tail.

    • Related terms

    * semiquaver * demisemiquaver * hemidemisemiquaver

    See also

    * breve * crotchet * longa * minim * semibreve

    Verb

  • to shake in a trembling manner.
  • to use the voice in a trembling manner, as in speaking or singing.
  • To utter quaveringly.
  • * Addison
    • We shall hear her quavering them to some sprightly airs of the opera.

    waver

    English

    Verb

    (en verb)
  • To sway back and forth; to totter or reel.
    • Flowers wavered in the breeze.
  • * Ld. Berners
    • With banners and pennons wavering with the wind.
  • * Sir Walter Scott
    • Thou wouldst waver on one of these trees as a terror to all evil speakers against dignities.
  • To flicker, glimmer, quiver, as a weak light.
  • To fluctuate or vary, as commodity prices or a poorly sustained musical pitch.
  • To shake or tremble, as the hands or voice.
    • His voice wavered when the reporter brought up the controversial topic.
  • To falter; become unsteady; begin to fail or give way.
  • * 1903 , Bill Arp, From the Uncivil War to Date
    • ...and that when a man was in the wrong his courage wavered , and his nerves became unsteady, and so he couldn't fight to advantage and was easily overcome.
  • * 2014 , Jacob Steinberg, " Wigan shock Manchester City in FA Cup again to reach semi-finals", The Guardian , 9 March 2014:
    • Although they believe they can overhaul their 2-0 deficit, they cannot afford to be as lethargic as this at Camp Nou, and the time is surely approaching when Manuel Pellegrini's faith in Martín Demichelis wavers .
  • To be indecisive between choices; to feel or show doubt or indecision; to vacillate.

    • Noun

    (en noun)
  • An act of wavering, vacillating, etc.
  • Someone who waves, enjoys waving, etc.
    • I felt encouraged by all the enthusiastic wavers in the crowd.
    The Fourth of July brings out all the flag wavers .
    Johnny is such a little waver ; everyone who passes by receives his preferred greeting.
  • Someone who specializes in waving (hair treatment).
  • A tool that accomplishes hair waving.
  • (UK, dialect, dated) A sapling left standing in a fallen wood.
    • (Halliwell)

    See also

    * waiver